Vibrant and colourful Pride march brings together the community of Waterford
Pictured at the Pride of the Déise march. All Photos: Joe Evans
The annual Pride March filled the streets of Waterford with colour last weekend, with hundreds attending.
The parade travelled from Cathedral Square, down the quay and towards O’Connell Street, with live music, dance and camaraderie.
Now in its sixth year, Pride of the Déise is built by and for the local queer community - with a strong focus on accessibility, inclusion, and joy.
The programme this year featured 13 days of events, including workshops, talks, drag shows, live music, sober socials, creative spaces, the vibrant Pride March and Block Party.
Providing an overview of this year’s festival, Pride of the Déise Chairperson Amy O’Riordan said: “We have stood together, spoken up, supported one another, and courageously reaffirmed our identities and rights.
"Our resilience is not confined to an annual Pride festival or month, it is our daily lived experience and an ongoing necessity.
“Whether it’s the vibrant Blaasification of the city in winter, the fabulous Notions seen at AlienNation’s club nights, the incredible creative energy driving Waterford’s infamous arts and culture scene, or the quiet but powerful activism and community support going on behind the scenes - we are here, we are queer, and we are certainly not going anywhere!
“This year, we have also witnessed an outpouring of solidarity from our wider community - individuals, groups, neighbours, and allies - who stood with us when we needed it recently.”
